Elephant Roopavathi Will Not Grace Bonalu, Muharram Processions This Time

An elephant Roopavathi from Karnataka will not grace during Bonalu and Muharram processions in Hyderabad this time forcing Telangana Endowments department to scout for another one to take part in the celebrations. After Rajani, Laxmi and Madhuri, the 35-year-old elephant, Roopavathi, participated in colourful Bonalu celebrations twice in the city in 2024. She took part in the Bibi-ka-Alam procession organized on account of Muharram last year.

in Karnataka expressed unwillingness to send her to Hyderabad this



time, the Endowments department is searching for a trained elephant either in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka or Kerala for the Bonalu and Muharram processions in July. 

“We don’t know the reasons behind the Mutt representatives’ reluctance not to send Roopavathi for Hyderabad. However, we started the process of identifying trained elephants in other States,” an official said. He said the department was searching for a well-trained elephant that gained experience in participating in religious processions.